Various artists.  We’re Not Kidding: A Tribute to Barry Louis Polisar.  Snail Sounds / Rainbow Morning Music.  2009.

I never could have guessed that I’d own an album by or featuring the Radioactive Chicken Heads.  It’s easy to be dismissive of a gimmicky band…I mean, you have to wonder how crappy their music must be if they think they have to look like this.  And yet, not only have they put together a tribute album bursting with talent and variety, but they’re also responsible for my favorite song on the album.

That song is “I Wanna Be a Dog.”  Now, that title should immediately call to mind the Stooges.  (If it didn’t, then you have required listening homework this week.)  Set that aside for a second, and take a look at this song’s lyrics:

I wanna be a dog, wanna wag my tail,
Chase cars and knock over garbage cans,
Bite the man who brings the mail.

Read the rest of the lyrics here.  Next, listen to how the song originally sounded.  Finally, call the Stooges back to mind, and fuse “I Wanna be a Dog” with “I Wanna be Your Dog.”

It happened on this album, successfully.

. . .

…I’m kind of surprised you’re still reading this.  If it were me, I would have opened a new browser tab to buy the album.  Or at least the song.  But you’re probably going to want the whole album.  Here are just a few reasons:

• “Don’t Stick Your Finger Up Your Nose” in Yiddish
• “Never Cook Your Sister in a Frying Pan” with a gospel ending
• A rap version of “When Suzie Sneezed”

Not to mention the other 56 tracks on the 2-disc set.  It’s a very hodgepodge album, but the tracks manage to fit cohesively, and it’s high quality throughout.  You can read all about the artists and their contributions, and hear more samples, on Polisar’s website.

other reviews:
Children’s Entertainment Examiner | Servings from the Cereal Bowl

Standard disclosure:  The CD was provided by BLP for review.  He has neither paid nor pressured me to speak well of it.

[ Posted in » Music Review Channel ]